Chemical Treatment

Traditional chemical precipitation uses either iron or aluminum salts to form a floc, which is then settled. Lime also clarifies. This process step can reduce the SS up to 85%. The accumulated chemical sludge is removed by gravity flow or pumping to conditioning or disposal or both. The chemicals and sewage are flash-mixed in a mixing tank that has only a few minutes detention time followed by 30 to 90 min detention in a flocculation tank that is slowly agitated to aid floc growth. As shown in Figure 7.21.1, settling follows the flocculation tank.